Which one should you use?
To address a man, you must change the ending of the adjective to the masculine form Hola hermoso (Hey handsome). Other informal alternatives to express a similar sentiment of calling someone attractive include Hola guapa and ¡Hola, Belleza! (Hello, beauty!). Additionally, ¡Qué pasa, Preciosa! can be used to mean "What's up, beautiful!"
Is it said differently in some regions?
Different regions use different variations of this greeting. In Spain, people may use Hola guapa or Hola bonita. In Latin America, phrases like Hola linda or Hola hermosa are used. In Mexico, it is common to use Hola chula in informal settings to express affection.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the feminine adjective hermosa to match the gender of the person being addressed.
Did you know?
- The word hola may share an ancestor with the Old High German word holōn, which was an emphatic command used to hail a ferryman.
- In Spain, the greeting hola guapa is frequently used by shopkeepers or waitstaff to address female customers in a friendly, non-romantic way.
- While hermosa is a high compliment, using it with a stranger in many Latin American countries might be seen as 'piropo', which refers to street harassment or unwanted catcalling.
Examples in context
- Hola hermosa, ¿cómo estás?Hey beautiful, how are you?
- Hola hermosa, qué gusto verte.Hey beautiful, it's good to see you.
- Hola hermosa, te ves muy bien.Hey beautiful, you look great.
Example conversation
Mateo greets María as she arrives at a restaurant.
- MateoHola hermosa, llegaste justo a tiempo.Hey beautiful, you arrived just in time.
- MaríaGracias, Mateo. Qué amable eres.Thanks, Mateo. You are so sweet.
- MateoEs la verdad, estás preciosa.It's the truth, you are gorgeous.
- MaríaMe haces sonreír. Vamos a comer.You make me smile. Let's eat.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
